This story was first printed by the Daily Post on Saturday, Sept. 29., and has since been copied by other news sites. To be the first to find out what’s happening locally, pick up the Daily Post in the mornings at 1,000 local locations.
BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer
Redwood City Mayor Jeff Gee yesterday (Sept. 28) announced those who attend city meetings through Zoom will not be able to weigh in during public comment, which some residents say will result in a lack of public participation.
Gee said the change is due to recent “Zoom bombings” — where anonymous speakers infiltrate Zoom meetings and begin spewing offensive comments or images. San Carlos’ City Council meeting was Zoom bombed on Monday and Atherton City Council’s meeting last week. Other cities such as Sacramento, Monterey, Pacifica and South San Francisco have also experienced the issue within the last 10 days.
Redwood City Council has not been Zoom bombed, Gee said.
City spokeswoman Jennifer Yamaguma said the city has been Zoom bombed in the past, but did not say when.
Gee said he’s been in meetings where Zoom bombs have occurred, but not nearly to the extent of San Carlos’ Monday meeting. Gee said at one meeting, someone spent their two minutes talking about smoking a brisket.
Those wishing to comment on items at council meetings can either attend in person or write an email to the city before 5 p.m. the day of the meeting. The email will be read for two minutes by a city employee.
Resident Kris Johnson called the step away from Zoom comments “a step backward.” He said the city ought to look into a verification process in order to make comments or to have a delay on the comments.
“Having a clerk read your speech is never as effective as having an impassioned person speaking to the issues,” Johnson said.
Johnson, along with resident Rona Gundrum said public participation has gone up with the introduction of remote comments. Both have been able to spend more time with their families instead of going to council meetings.
Gee said virtual public comments are a courtesy, there is no requirement from the state or the City Council itself for Zoom input.
“It’s a courtesy to promote civic engagement because it’s a lot easier. But it’s also a lot easier for things outside of our control to happen,” Gee said.
Resident Julie Pardini said she thinks anything that reduces the opportunity for the public to speak is not good. She pointed out that Redwood City residents used to have three minutes to speak before their City Council during public comment, but now have two.
Resident Chris Robell said he’s suspicious that the comments are being turned off right before council potentially discusses new tax measures.
The change is expected to last at least until the end of the year. The council will re-evaluate its procedures in January.
Redwood City isn’t the first to take away Zoom comments. Earlier this year, Palo Alto school board attempted to do the same thing, but in June voted to reverse its decision after residents protested. School Board member Todd Collins voted against reinstating Zoom comments, saying he wanted to avoid meetings going on for too long and Zoom bombing.
The Los Altos School District only allows in-person comments.
In San Francisco, Board President Aaron Peskin proposed getting rid of remote public comment after the Board of Supervisors was bombarded with racist and anti Semitic rants.